Sheet-delivery mechanism.



R. MIEHLE.

SHEET DELIVERY MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION NLBD JULY 22.1912.

. Panend sept. 2 2. 1914.

IN VEN TUR W/T/VESSES:

n, 20. WM.

en loved in UNiTED IsTATiis PATENT oFFIoE.

, ROBERT MIEHLE. or o'iioAGo, ILLINOIS, AssIGNOR T 'rises'r seit/retos sans. TBUS TEE. OF CHICAGTQJ ILLINOIS.

{SHEET-DELIVERY MECHANISM.

1.11 Loes. Y

Application inea hay 22.

ind State oi Y Specification. ef Letters Patent.

y eil ina' at (lhi- `illinois. have invented a certain new :iiil` useful improvement iii Sheet llelivery Mechanism. lof which the follovfv ne' is a full.

clear. concise. and exact deseriptioii. ret'erl ence being' had to theaccompanying draw- I ings. forming a `part of this specilieation.

Mv invention relates to,sheetl deliverv mechanism and is of'particiilar service when connection with printing;

J.esfor delivering printed sheets there- "'t-orque upon the. roller. The roller is caused to travel in a uniform direotionin a substantiall'v fixed orbit and to this end it may be.

n'iounted upon similar' stretcheseof adjacent endless belts whereby the roller is caused to `move toward and from the turning anchorage for the belt, or beltsV attachedpthereto. Sprinty mechanism is provided for exerting winding torque upon therollerbutf do not limit myself to this characteristic, and while preferably provided with turning anchorages. l do not wish to be limited tolthat characteristic.y

My invention iii-another of its aspects resides in the employment of a sheet support iup; belt.. or belts. a feed board along which sheets are conveyed toward the sheet supporting belt., in a directionfopposite to that in which the sheet'supporting stretehwo' such belt is moving and a devicey interposed between Vthe sheet supportinglbelt and the. J(eed board for ire'rersingf the direction in which the sheets that are fed upon the sheet supporting stretchfofothodielt'in' the saine. directioningwhich suoli belt .stretch is nioving. yThis feature ofmy. invention enables me to econo'miiie" space since-.the feed board may partially or completely overlie the sheet supportingl belt instead of'being lo ated in alineinent with .s'iichghelt.` I have'employed the present feature of my invention for the exerts .windingi the belt. or belts. attached to the oller are i Y with a type or form be naturel of the press is in'miaterial to the in- Scrial No. 710.933.

O CONTINENTAL & COMMERCIAL Patented sept. 22, 1914.

purpose ot' feeding' slip sheets between printhrets am additional space need inter sheet supporting' belt and t 'or the purpose of feed tween the printed sheets.

)lv invention. in another of l h v means ol` the invention no' vene between the he printing press Y ingr slip sheets beits aspects,

resides broadly in means for initially feedingr or delivering sheets tions. there beinei means lying' these i in opposing direcn a employed for unilireetious before the sheets are deposited and l consider this feature of my invention to be broadly sheet conveying belts are emplo l will explain my invention by reference to the new whether or not yed. A

more fully accompanying drawing showing" the preferred embodiment thereof and to whiel i embodiment the invention is not to be limited and in which drawing- Figure 1 is a side view illustrating a pori tion of the printingr press and the sheet delivery mechanism of my invent is a view, on a larger scale, of the sheet delivery mechanism shown in F ig.

attached being shown in positio l, the rollers to' which the sheet conveyingbelts are. 80

ns differing from their positions in Fig. l (it being pos- 'ible by means Vof my invention to employ two sheet conveying:r belt supporting rollers); Fig. 3 is a plan view parts as they appear 1n Fig. l; 1s a detail of one of the of most of the si and rig. i

rollers upon which torque is exerted b v spring mechanism.

Like parts are indicated by si aeters of reference throughout t figures. i

' The impression cylinder 1 is il being of the two revolution tvpe upon by the press milar charlie diferent 9h lustrated a. cooperating d but obviously the.

9 i. ing printed are conveyed b v belts ii in time to be engaged by grippers i,

which may be of any suitable or preferred construction which need not be Sides of a element 5 having suitable rati wlth respect to the si sheets 2 in order that they `gripper continuously travelingl specificallj,v described. 'These grlppers are mounted up on opposite endless belt o ot speed weed of travel of the s may be in the design set of gript-houfgh the this design,

5, through the intermediation of the grippers 4, pull the sheets in the direction in which they are to be conveyed. When one of the sets of grippers 4 first engages a sheet 2, an associ ate roller 6 is just in advance thereof. When 'the other set of grippers 4 first engages a v sheet 2, another'roller 7 peculiar to this second set of grippers is just in advance thereof. These rollers 6 and 7 are mounted upon o posite sides of an endless belt elementvS. Slieet supporting belts 9 are anchored to the rollers 6 and 7A and inasmuch as the embodiment of the invention illustrated includes two sets of belts 9 and two rollers 6 and 7, the ends of the belts 9 companion to those anchored to the rollers 6 and 7 are turningly anchored, one setof belts 9 having one turningv anchorage andthe other set ofbelts 9 having another turning anchorage, these anchorages being independent.

l In order to anchor the belts 9 I preferably employ anchoring rings or collars 10 that are free to move about a shaft l1 common thereto. The belts are located above the belts 8 and suitable gearing 'is employed to cause the adj acentstretches of belts 5 and 8 to move in the same direction whereby the sets of glzippers 4 keep company with their associate rollers 6 and 7 until the grippers leave'the plane of the lower stretches of the belts 5 and the rollers leave the plane of the upper stretches of the belts 8. Thus as the grippers 4 continue to pull the sheets 2 the belts 9 are unwound from their rollers in opposition to the coiled'springs 12, moving in the mannerof an ordinary roller shade, though holds upon the sheets 2 so that said sheets are fully deposited upon the belts 9. The rollers then leave the plane of the upper stretches of the belts 8, and when entering upon and traveling in the lower plane of the stretches of such belts 8 the springs 12 oper- `ate to turn the rollers and Wind the belts 9 thereupon so that the sheet supporting jl'epgths of the belts are decreased until :finally they are removed altogether from benea-th the sheets 2 which are deposited in a pile' as indicated at 13.

' i It is obvious that my invention in certain of its aspects is realized where there is but one roller 6 or 7 and but one set of belts -9 and one set of grippers 4 but I preferably s o embody my invention that two rollers 6 and 7 may be employed as well-as two sets of vgrippers'4 and in such case the two belt elements 9 are provided with turning anchores 10 and 11 as indicated, the anchorages =o the two belt elements 9 being colloeated Aployed to convey sheets 23.

and preferably, though not necessarily ca pable of independent movement. vThese an chorages are located within the orbit of travel of the belts 6 and 7 in order that the two sets of belts 9 may not interfere. Where but one'set of belts 9 is employed it is obvious that the non traveling anchorage for such belts need not be pivotal and need not be located Within the orbit of the travel of the roller G or 7 lto whichsuch belts are attached. lVhile I prefer to employ the belts 8 for descending in substantially fixed orbit oftravel over the rollers G and 7 and prefer to employ springs 12 for winding the belts 9 upon the rollers when said rollersare moving toward the non traveling anchorage of such belts, I do not wish to be limited to such an arrangement as modifications are obvious.

The shaft 11 carries sheet stop fingers 131 that are fixed thereupon so that the sheets 2 are arrested and are thereafter allowed ,to

proceed in time to permit the gi'ippersg4 properly to grasp the same, see Fig. 1.

Any suitable gripping mechanism may be employed for the grippers 4 and suitable mechanism for controlling the operation of these grippers may be used. As illustrated one gripper 14 of each pair is fixed With respectto one lilik of its carrying chain 5, While the gripper 15 companion to the gripper 14 is pivotally mounted upon another link 0f said chain. T he spring 1G, when free to operate,

brings the gripper l5v into gripping engagement with a sheet 2 interposed between the grippers. A segmental gear 17 is fixed willi respect to the gripper 15. A segmental rack 18 is journalcd upon a shaft 19. A cam v roller 2O has a mounting upon the segmental gear 18 byu-hich the axis of said roller and 'said gear 18 are relatively fixed. A cam 21 is provided for each cam roller 20 and serves to move the associate segmental. gear 18 to move thejaw 15 from its, companion 14 whereby thesheet 2 may be fed into the space between the jaws 14 and 15. After the cam 21 -has been passed the spring 16 will bring' the jaw 15 toward the jaw 14 to grip the interposed sheet 2. Each cam roller 2() jaw 15 is again moved away from-the jaw 14 in order that the sheet 2 which now has been conveyed sufliciently far may drop out of the space between the jaws 14 and 15 preparatory to its complete deposit upon the belts 9 that support it. i

The supporting belts 9 may also be ein- These sheets may be in the nature of slip sheets to'prevent off setting of the printed sheets, but I do not wish to be limited toV this characteristic.

'The sheets 23 are provided upon a feed board 24 and are initially fed therefrom. in

a direction opposite to that in which lthe When the gri in which the switches 23 move so that the l el. One set of grippers t thus grips one-pair of sheets 2rJ 23, and the other set of grippers 24- Orips the next pair of sheets 2, 23, eacli set of grippers thus alternating.

I believe it to be new with me initially to feed the sheets 2, :23r` in opposin l directions and thereafter to unify these directions whether such sheets be. caused to travel one superposed upon the other and Whether or not such sheets are provided with belt conveyers for etlecting farther travel thereof after they have been moved in similar directions. ppers 4 grip the sheets 2 and 23 in pairs these sheets are included in the same pile 13 and this operation is of advantage Whether or not the sheets 23 are slip sheets. It is obvious however that the gearing may 'be so designed as to cause one set of grippersaA to grasp sheets 2 only and the remaining set of grippers to grasp the sheets 23 only whereby the sheets 2 and 23 are alb .hated in the pile 13, this operation bef ing of advantage Whether or not the sheets 23 are slip sheets.

Any suitable mechanism for feeding the sheets 23 through the segmental guiding element I have employed linger stops 26 operated at suitable intervals by printing press operated lever mechanism 2T to be brought into position a1'Y regular intervals for the purpose of designingT the time -at Which the sheets 23 may einer the segmental guide structure 25 and properly to position said sheets prior to their travel through such guide structure. Printing press operated lever mechanism 28 serves to raise the rollers 29 When the sheets 23 are to be adjusted against the fingers 26. ,l .ttor an interval has elapsed which is sutilcieut ro pei A)it of the proper adjustment of nach sheet against the fingers 26, the rollers are y-uered into engagement with 3l). the rollers 29, t which rollers 3G eoiperating to 23 through the segmental may be provided guido structure Reterence may be had l f =ny eri-pending;v

appliration 51h-rial To. 676.0%? tiled February T, Ulli and May i9. linz.

l believe lY have, detail the ,uierliai i by whioh one embodiment of my invention may be secured. lt is obvious that many changes may be made inthe structure Without departing from the l l l l l l l r i l spirit of theinvention and l do 'not therefore Wish to be limited to the precise details -ot construction shown, but

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Lelters Patent the followingz*y l. Sheet delivery7 mechanism includinga sheet supporting belt element anchored a1'- one end; a roller to which the other end of said belt element is attached: ymeans for causing` said roller to travel substantiallyvv in an orbit: and means for causingr the roller to Wind the bell: element thereupon when` the roller approaches` the anchorage For the belt element. y f l 2.k Sheet delivery merhainsni including' a 'sheet supporting` belt element anchored at one end: a roller to Whieh the otherl end of said belt element is attached: an endless belt clement upon which said roller mounted whereby said roller is caused to travel substantially in an orbit: and means For causing the roller to Wind the sheet supporting belt element thereupon when the rollerappreaches the anchorage for thesheet supporting belt element.

3. Sheet delivery meohanisinincluding a sheet supporting` belt element anchored at one end; a roller to which the other'end of said belt element is attached; means for causing said roller to-'travel` substantially7 in an orbit; and spring,T mechanisin'for turniupr the roller when it approaches the anchorage for the sheet supporting 'belt element then to Wind said sheet supporting belt element upon the roller.

l. Sheet deliver)7 mechanism including! a sheet supporting belt-element anchored'at one end; a roller to which the other end of said belt element is attached; an endless belt element upon which said roller isnlonnted whereby said roller is caused to travel substantially in an orbit: and springr mechanism for turning Jthe roller when 'i1A ap-A Sheet delivery mechanism including4 tvv'o sheet supporting belt elen'ients; a turning' anchorage for one end ot' each of said belt elements` these anohorages beingr substantially collocate-d: a rollerto which the other ond of each of said Vbelt elements at,- avhed; infuus trawl substantially in opposite'sides ot an and means for causingr the rollers to ivind the belt elements thereupon when the rollers approach the anohorages for thenbelt elements. said anehoragres being within said orbit. described in sulicient- 6. Sheet (li-livery mechanism 'including tivo sheet siuiportingr beltelements: a turning' anchorage 'tor onel end ol: each oiisaid sheet supporti ng ages being substantially collooated; a roller Vfor eau-1in@ said rollers to belt elements, theseanehorto which the other end of each of said sheet supporting belt elements is attached; a belt element for causing the rollersto travel substantially in opposite sides of an orbit; and means for causing the rollers to Wind the belt elements thereupon when the rollers approach the anchorages for the belt elements,

i sheet supporting belt element anchored at one said anchorages beingwithin said orbit.

7. Sheet delivery mechanism including two sheet supporting-belt elements; a turning anchorage i'or one end of each of said belt elements, these anchorages being substantially collocated; a roller to which the other end of each of said belt elements is attached; means for causing said rollers to .travel substantially in 'opposite sides of an orbit; and spring mechanism for turning the rollers when the;7 approach the anchorages for the sheet supporting belt elements then to wind said sheet supporting belt elements upon the rollers. 4 S. Sheet delivery mechanism including two sheet supporting belt elements; a turning anchorage ior one end of each of said sheet supporting belt elements, these anchorages being substantially collocated; a roller to which the other end ot each of said sheet supporting belt elements is attached; a belt element for causing the rollers to travel substantially in opposite sides of an orbit; and

spring mechanism for turning the 'rollers when they approach the anchorages for the sheet supporting belt elements then to wind said sheet supporting belt elements upon the rollers.

9. Sheet delivery mechanism including a end; a roller to which the other end ot said belt element is attached; means for causing said' roller to travel substzntially in an orbit; means for causing the roller to wind the belt element thereupon when the roller approaches the anchorage for the belt element; gripping Imechanism for gripping sheets; and means for causing said gripping mechanism to travel with said roller when sheets are being deposited upon said belt clement.

10. Sheet delivery mechanism including two sheet supporting belt elements; a turning anchorage for one Yend of each of said belt elements. these anchorages being substantially collocated; a roller to Which the other end oteach of said belt elements is attached; means Jfor causing said rollers to travel substantially in opposite sides of an orbit; means for causing the rollers to Wind the belt elements thereupon when the rollers approach the anchorages for the belt elements, said anchorages being within said orbit; gripping vI'nechanism for gripping sheets; and means for causing said gripping mechanisms to travel with said rollers when sheets; are beingv deposited upon said belt l1. Sheet delivery mechanism including two sheet supporting belt elements; a turning anchorage for one endet each of said belt elements, these anchorages being substantially collocated; a roller to which the other end of each of said belt elements is attached; means :tor causing said rollers to travel substantially in opposite sides of an orbit; means for causing the rollers to Wind the belt elements thereupon when the rollers approach the anchorages 'for the belt elements, said anchorages being Within said orbit; gripping mechanisms for gripping sheets; and means for causing said gripping mechanisms to travel with said rollers when sheets are being deposited upon said belt elements, this means causing the gripping mechanisms to travel substantially in an orbit.

12. Sheet delivery mechanism including a sheet supporting belt element anchored at oneend; a roller to which the other end of said belt element is attached; means for causing said roller to travel substantially in an orbit means for causing the roller to wind the belt element thereupon when the roller approaches the anchorage for the belt element; gripping mechanism for gripping sheets; and means for causing said gripping mechanism to travel with said roller when sheets are being deposited upon said belt element, this means causing the gripping' mlchanism to travel substantially in an or it.

13. Sheet delivery mechanism including two sheet supporting belt elements; and means for alternately placing veach belt element abovethe other whereby each belt ele-v ment, when uppermost, may receive a sheet and thereafter place the sheet it supports in a lower position when such belt element may have the sheet it supports discharged therefrom.

14. Sheet delivery mechanism including two sheet supporting belt elements; means for alternately placing each belt element above the other whereby each belt element, when uppermost, may receive a sheet and thereafter place the sheet it supports .in a lower position when suclL-belt element may have the` sheet it supports discharged therefrom; and means for increasing the length of each belt element when uppermost then to receive the sheet.

15. Sheet delivery mechanism including two sheet supporting belt elements; means for alternately placing each belt element above the other whereby each belt element,

when uppermost, may receive a sheet and lthereafter place the sheet it supports in a .lower position when such belt element may have the sheet it supports discharged there` from; and means for decreasing the length of each belt element when lowermost then to discharge the sheet. v

lio.

annees .16. `Sheet delivery mechanism including tivo sheetsupporting belt elements; means for alternately placing each belt element above the other whereby each belt element,

Ation of an extensible and contractible sheetcarrying element; means to cause one end of said element to traverse an orbit; 'and' means for substantially iXedly locating the other end or the element ivithin the orbit.

whereby the movable entl of the carrier 'ravels around the substantially fixed end.

LS. ln a sheet delivery mechanism," the combination oi'a plurality of' belt elements each anchored at one-end; anflmeans for alternately placing' each belt element above the other to receive a sheet and for alternately placing each.belt element below the other to ,lower the sheet it carries prepara` tory to its discharge.

19. ln a sheet delivery mechanism, the combination of a plurality of belt elements each anchored at one end; rollers to which the unanchored ends of the belt elements are secured; and means for unwincling each belt element from its roller when such belt element is uppermost then to receive the sheet and for winding each belt element upon its roller when such belt element is ylorvermost then to discharge the sheet.

2G. In a sheet delivery mechanism, the

'combination of a plurality of belt elements each anchored` at one end; means for alten mately placing each belt 'element above the other to .receive a saeet and for alternately placing each belt elementl below the other to lower the sheet it carries preparatory to its udischarge; and means'for extending each belt element when uppermost then to receive the sheet and forl contracting each belt element when lovvermost to eiect the discharge or' the sheet. v j

In Witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this'twentieth clay of July A. D., 1912.

RBERT MEHLE.

Witnessesc L. WHITE, G. A. Cease. 

